Dyal Singh Evening College name change put on hold, says HRD Minister Javadekar

The decision to change the name of Delhi's Dyal Singh Evening College to Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya has been put on hold, informed Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar to the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour on Tuesday.

Javadekar also informed the house that the decision to change of an evening college’s name was not government’s decision.

SAD member Naresh Gujral during the Zero Hour had raised the issue. He said, “The managing committee of the Dyal Singh Evening College recently decided to rename the college to Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya.

The SAD leader said, “Vande Mataram evokes nationalism. But, to change the name of a minority institution is a direct assault on the feeling of the Sikh community.

Also read: Harsimrat Kaur Badal denounces renaming Dyal Singh College to Vande Mataram College, cites Pakistan

In a reply Javadekar said, “Creating unnecessary controversies by playing with emotions is wrong."

The governing body of Dyal Singh Evening College had earlier renamed the evening college to Vande Mataram College and passed the decision to change evening shift timings to regular college in November.

Amitabh Singh, Chairman of the General Body then said, "The General Body passed the decision on making the evening shift as regular college. It has been renamed as Vande Mataram College. This step will help all the students on the evening shift."

Pawan Sharma, the principal of the college said, "The name inspired millions during the freedom struggle. It'll also inspire students. There mustn't be controversy on it. People opposing it haven't understood it well. We'll not reconsider it. It's final."